Floor-surfacing machine.



Patented Dec. l9, I899. F. B. PATCH.

FLOOR SURFACING MACHiNE;

(Application filed Aug. 5, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

8m e/Wto z Ema? J2. Pate/ a,

No. 639,278. Patented Dec. I9, I899.

F. R. PATCH.

FLOOR SURFACING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 5, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Modelg) Warren Sra'rns PATENT FFiCEt FRED R. PATCH, OF RUTLAND, VERMONT.

FLOOR-SURFACING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,278, dated December 19, 1899. Application filed August 5, 1899. Serial No.726,322. (No model.)

To (till whom zit may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED R. PATCH, acitizen of the United States, residing at Rutland, in the county of Rutland, State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Floor-Surfacing Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a floor-surfacing machine, and particularly to a portable machine adapted for finishing the surface of stone or wooden floors by a rubbing action thereon.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved construction of parts for suspending, driving, and governing the rotating polisher and also for feeding sand and water when such a polisher is used upon tile or Mosaic floors.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of brake mechanism adapted to be operated by lifting the transporting-handle of the machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective of the machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the brake mechanism. Fig. 4. is a detail plan of such brake mechanism. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the sand and water tanks. Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section of the driving-gear and its bearing for the rotating grinding-head. Fig. 7 is a plan of the water and sand tanks. Fig. 8 is a similar View of a grinder for stone surfaces, and Fig. 9 is a plan of a modified form of grinder for wooden surfaces.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughoutthe several figures of the drawings.

The letter A designates the truck orsupport adapted to carry the operative parts of the machine, which truck is suitably mounted upon transporting-wheels A and is provided at its rear with a bearing-box A Upon this truck an insulating-board A is supported for the purpose of receiving and insulating a dynamo B from the metallic frame of the truck. This dynamo is provided at the front of the machine with a starting-box B and a switch 13 I have described an electric motor supported upon the truck as the propelling means for the grinding device, and it is found desirable to connect such a motor by flexible conductors with a lamp-socket on the wall or ceiling of a room; but the invention is not confined to this particular form of motor, as any other character of propelling device may be substituted therefor.

Supported in the boxing A is a vertical driving-shaft 0, bearing a beveled drivinggear 0, adapted to mesh with a correspond ing pinion B carried on the shaft of the motor. The gear C is mounted upon a plate C located at the upper end of a sleeve 0 and the shaft 0 is splined, feathered, or 0therwise secured to the sleeve, so as to move longitudinally through the same. The lower end of the shaft is connected by means of a universal or knuckle joint 0 with any suitable form of grinding orpolishing Wl16elsuch, for instance, as shown at D in Figs. 1 and 8, Where the usual form of cast or wrought iron grinding-wheel is shown provided with spiral slots or grooves D for retaining and concentrating the sand and water. The upper end of the shaft C passes through a lifting-collar 0 within which the shaft 0 rotates, but does not reciprocate. pose of elevating the grinding-wheel and its shaft 0 a lever E has been suitably pivoted, as at E, above the motor B and is provided with a forked end E to engage the piutles of the collar C while the opposite end of the lever is provided with a handle and suitable latching-pin E adapted to engage any one of a series of notches formed in a latch-plate E extending vertically upward from the truck.

lVhen the invention is used for grinding such character of floor that it is desired to feed to the grinding-wheel sand and Water in a mixed condition, provision is made for that purpose by means of the tank F, supported by a standard B above the motor B. This tank is provided with a pitched or inclined bottom F, which disposes the contents toward the opposite sides, and at those points feed-pipes F are provided, which pipes are provided with suitable valves F Above the For the purtank F and adjustable longitudinally of the same is a water-tank G, having outlet-cocks G, adapted to discharge into the compartments of the sand-tank. This tank G is supported upon a cross-piece G adapted to slide longitudinally upon the upper edge of the tank F, so that the water may be discharged at any desired point upon the sand and the feed of moistened sand may be properly controlled through the valved pipes F which discharge above and over the grinding-wheel B, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

For the purpose of holding the truck in any desired position during the grinding opera tion I have provided an improved construction of brake embodying a shoe H, rigidly secured to a pole or handle II, which is used for transmitting the machine. This handle is journaled at H in a suitable projection H from the truck, and said projection is provided with a seat H, against which the edge of the shoe will rest when out of contact with the transporting wheel A. To apply the brake, it is only necessary to lift the handle toward a vertical position, which forces the shoe II into contact with the wheel. For the further purpose of preventing slipping of these wheels the same may be provided with a rubber face or tire a.

It will be obvious that the form of grinding or polishing wheel may be changed. For instance, a disk I, covered with sandpaper or other abradant material, may be substituted for the grinding-wheel D,elsewhere described. It is also obvious that if found convenient the motive power for the grinding-surface may also be suitably applied for driving the transporting-wheel when desired.

When the machine is to be placed in operation, the grinding-wheel is lowered to the floor by means of the lever E and may be held in contact therewith at any desired pressure, while the handle II may be thrown upward to bind the brake-shoe H against the wheel A. I/Vith the parts in this position the motor is started and the grinding operation proceeds, while a suitable feed of sand may be maintained whenever desired. If an unusual amount of grinding is to be performed at one point, the brake may be applied to hold the machine in position over the work at that point; but ordinarily it is not necessary to apply the brake while the machine is in operation.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the details of construction and configuration of the several parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with a truck having a vertical bearing-box at one end, of a motor mounted upon said truck, a d riving-gear carried by a sleeve journaled in said bearing, a reciprocator'y shaft passing through said gear and sleeve and carrying a grinding-wheel at its lower end, and a lever pivotally connected to a sleeve rotatably mounted upon said shaft for reciprocating the same; substantially as specifiedf The combination with a truck carrying an insulating-platform and motor, of a driving-gear journaled upon said truck, a reciprocatory shaft passing through said gear and carrying a grinding-wheel at its lower end, a lever for reciprocating said shaft, a latch-bar adapted to engage said lever at the front of the machine, a sand-tank provided with conducting-pipes leading to said wheel, and a water-tan k .mounted above and discharging into said sandtank; substantially as specitied.

3. Ina floor-surfacing machine, the combination .with a grinding-wheel, of a sand-tank having a conducting-pipe at its lower portion, and a water-tank slidingly supported upon the upper surface of said sand-tank; substantially as specified.

4c. In a floor-surfacing device, the combination with a wheeled truck, of a handle or lever pivoted at one side of the wheel-axle, and a brake-shoe carried by said handle and extending circumferentially of the wheel; substantially as specified.

5. In a floor-surfacing machine, the combination with a wheeled truck, of an extension from said truck, an operating-handle pivoted to said extension from said truck adjacent to the periphery of the wheel, and a brake-shoe adapted to contact with said extension when out of contact with the wheel; substantially as specified.

6. The combination with a wheeled truck, of a brake for maintaining the same in position, a grinding-wheel pivotally supported on said truck, a motor for driving said wheel, a sand-tank above said motor and having a V- shaped bottom, a lever for elevating said grinding-wheel pivoted beneath said tank, and a vertically-extending latch-bar adapted to engage said lever; substantially as specified.

'7. In a floor-surfacing machine, a wheeled truck having at its rear portion a vertical journal-boxing and forward of its front axle with a pivoting extension for the operatinghandle; substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRED R. PATCH.

\Nitnesses:

F. H. RICH, T. A. REARnoN. 

